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DEMON.—The word does not occur in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] . In RV [Note: Revised Version.] it is substituted for ‘devil’ in the margin of many passages, and the American Committee was in favour of its adoption in the text. Twice it stands in the text (Deu_32:17, Psa_106:37), representing a root found in both Assyr. [Note: Assyrian.] and Arab. [Note: Arabic.] , and denoting a species of genli or demi-gods, who were conceived as invested with power for good or evil, and to whom even human sacrifices were offered. So in Bar_4:7; and in the same sense probably ‘devils’ is used in 1Co_10:20 and Rev_9:20. For the conception of demon as an influence or spirit, exclusively evil, see Devil; and for the phenomena, see Possession and Exorcism.
R. W. Moss.